Golden Branch

"Sister, I understand what you mean! Don't worry, I will definitely make plans for Xiao Dalang!"

The Saint sat beside the couch, carefully holding the Queen's hand.

The queen had been sick for these days and her face had become pale and she looked haggard.

So thin, so weak, with only bones left in his hands.

The saint is worried about himself, and will break if he exerts a little force.

"Sister, can you enthrone Little Dalang as the Crown Prince?"

The sage was very pleased with the prince and he never thought of changing the heir.

Since the crown prince is recognized as the heir to the throne, the crown prince's successor can be named the crown prince.

Xiao Dalang, what a pity!

Both the saint and the queen loved little Dalang very much.

This is the eldest son of their eldest son, and the former Crown Princess is also a virtuous woman.

It is neither reasonable nor morally unreasonable to determine Xiao Dalang's identity as the successor in advance.

Not to mention, this was probably my sister's biggest wish before she died.

Even though the saint was unwilling to face the queen's death, he understood that his sister was about to leave.

He would never let his sister die with regrets.

"...Okay! Ah Lang, I was actually overthinking it! With you here, with Da Lang here, little Da Lang will never be wronged!"

"The one I'm really worried about is you!"

When the queen heard the saint's words about enthroning the crown prince, she felt completely relieved.

She grasped the saint's hand with her backhand, and with her eyes gradually losing their brilliance, she looked at him deeply: "Brother, everyone says you are a war god general, a wise and powerful king, but who knew that you were wounded and suffered the stigma of not being understood?"

The queen spoke with difficulty, her tone filled with heartache for the saint.

To her, the saint was not only the emperor, but also the brother she grew up with and the husband she shared every day and every day.

In this world, only the Queen is qualified to feel sorry for the Saint.

Of course, there is another one, the emperor of Daming Palace.

However, both the Queen and the Saint knew that this true relative and elder had long been the Saint's enemy.

He wishes the saint would die, so how could he feel any sympathy or compassion?

"Sister!"

The saint called softly, and he could even feel the queen's reluctance and heartache for him.

He was a veteran of many battles, someone who shed blood but not tears, but now he was in tears without realizing it.

"Don't cry! Brother, even if I die, I will pray for you. I hope my brother's great achievements will be remembered in history."

As she spoke, the queen's voice gradually faded away.

Feeling the power in his hand disappear, the saint was shocked and shouted urgently: "Imperial Physician! Quick! Send for the Imperial Physician!"

The imperial doctors who were waiting outside the hall rushed in hurriedly.

After taking the queen's pulse and giving her acupuncture for most of the day, they finally brought her back from the brink of death.

Queen Li did not die, but her death also entered the countdown.

The saint knew that the elder sister was holding on to her last breath just to fulfill her wish.

The painful inner struggle of a saint.

It is not difficult to fulfill my sister's wish.

It was just an imperial edict, and to him, it was just a matter of talking.

But once the imperial decree is issued and her wish is fulfilled, my sister will leave.

He doesn't want his sister to die.

But if I don't satisfy my sister, and she can no longer save me, won't she leave with regret?

He couldn't bear it.

The sage was conflicted and entangled, and did not issue an edict for a long time.

In this way, the queen endured for another two days.

She had been awake less and less in the past two days. Every time she fell asleep, the imperial doctors had to make great efforts to wake her up.

"Where's Divine Doctor Li? Can the people who went to Jiangnan find him?"

The saint's dilemma is not a purely psychological problem.

He also wanted to take advantage of the Queen's unfulfilled wish and do his best to help his sister live longer.

The people sent to Jiangnan are already looking for Li Mingtang.

Once the person is found, they will be sent to the capital city at an urgent speed of 800 miles.

Li Mingtang is a miracle doctor, and he also has some Taoist tricks. Maybe he can bring the queen back from the brink of death again!

"Your Majesty, we have found Divine Doctor Li and he is on his way back to the capital."

"We'll probably reach the capital in two or three days!"

The shadow guard appeared silently like a ghost and bowed to report.

"Quick! Quicker! Pass the order down. No matter the cost, we must send Divine Doctor Li to the capital as soon as possible."

The saint spoke hurriedly, his anxiety growing.

His sister really can't hold on any longer!

"...Brother, I saw Auntie. She came to pick me up—"

That evening, the sky was dyed orange by the setting sun.

The queen's eyes began to blur, and her voice became vague and unreal.

Her eyes, with pupils unable to focus, stared blankly in a certain direction, and a skinny, chicken-claw-like hand pointed tremblingly in a certain direction.

The saint's heart trembled violently.

He knew who the A'gu the queen was talking about. It was none other than his biological mother.

A saint knows better than anyone what it means when a dying person "sees" a loved one who has passed away long ago.

Sister, I’m really going to die!

"Sister! Don't go! Wait a moment. I have already drafted an imperial decree to enthrone Ah Cheng as the Crown Prince."

Li Mingtang is less than 300 miles away from the capital. If he can hold on for another day, oh no, just another half day, maybe—

"Your Majesty, I am leaving! I beg Your Majesty not to vent your anger on innocent people because of me!"

Perhaps it was really the last moment, and the queen's distracted eyes focused again.

She looked at the saint and made a request to the emperor as the queen.

The saint's heart trembled violently.

There were also the Crown Prince, Princess Jincheng, and other royal relatives kneeling before the couch, all with sorrowful expressions on their faces.

Back to the light!

This is the Queen's last gasp!

Even after realizing this, the prince and others could not cry out loud, for fear that their crying would send Queen Li away.

"Your Majesty, take care!"

The queen said her farewell words, her hands dropped gently, and a faint smile played on the corners of her mouth.

“…Sister!”

The saint's hands trembled as he carefully checked the queen's breath.

Then he closed his eyes tightly, and tears flowed freely.

"Sister!"

The saint burst into tears, and his shrill cry was like the roar of a wild beast that had lost everything.

The prince waited until this moment before he dared to completely release himself:

"Auntie!"

"Sister-in-law!"

"Grandma!"

Outside the main hall, under the corridor, Concubine Jiang and other concubines were kneeling.

Hearing the crying, they couldn't help but cover their faces with their sleeves and sob.

Especially Concubine Jiang, who has been with the Queen for many years.

The world thought that they were natural enemies because of their status as wives and concubines.

In fact, they have known each other and been together for many years.

Back then, Queen Li even entrusted her orphan to Concubine Jiang, which shows the friendship between them.

Queen Li is tolerant and Concubine Jiang is insightful.

They did not fight to the death for a man or for power.

They support each other in the backyard and the harem, and have a close relationship.

"My lady, take care on your journey!"

Concubine Jiang bowed solemnly and sincerely saw Queen Li off.

Her beautiful face was already covered with tears.

The other concubines were also crying.

Whether they were truly sad or trying to act sad, they cried very intently.

They are all talented people who have experienced the ups and downs of the harem, and their acting skills have long been superb.

They don't even need props, they can cry so realistically.

There were mournful cries, countless tears and grief, and the entire Taiji Palace was immersed in sorrow.

The bells rang one after another from the bell tower.

The Duke's Mansion of Qi.

Wang Heng was having snacks with Anan. She had just picked up a piece of egg yolk pastry when she heard the bell.

Wang Heng's hand stopped in mid-air.

She counted silently.

One, two...twenty-seven!

There were a total of twenty-seven tolls, a type of funeral bell that only sounds during a national mourning.

"The Queen has passed away!"

Although she had known about Queen Li's death for a long time, when the moment really came, Wang Heng was still a little confused and panicked.

"Mother! It fell! It fell!"

Suddenly, the sound of Anan's milk snoring rang in her ears, which woke Wang Heng up.

Wang Heng came back to her senses and found that the snack in her hand had fallen to the ground while she was daydreaming.

The well-behaved Anan, with his little butt sticking out, picked it up considerately, and held it in his chubby little hands and presented it to Wang Heng.

"...Thank you, Anan! Anan is so good!"

Wang Heng thanked him as usual and gave him compliments.

She was completely awake and beckoned the nurse over: "Go, change the little girl into plain clothes!"

As she spoke, Wang Heng stood up and signaled Bai Zhi and others to take off her hairpins and change into plain clothes.

She was a princess, and when the queen passed away, she had to go to the palace to mourn.

The slaves in the Duke of Qi's mansion were well-trained, and they all started moving at Wang Heng's command.

While Wang Heng was changing her clothes, all the lanterns in the mansion were covered with white paper, and the slaves, servants, guards, etc. also changed into plain clothes.

Even the carriage that Wang Heng rode in had been stripped of all its luxurious decorations, looking very plain and simple.

Wang Heng wore a plain white chest-length skirt and a white gauze robe with wide sleeves.

Her hair was tied into a simple bun, and a white silk flower was pinned on her temples.

Wang Heng is very glad that she rarely wears makeup at home.

This saves me the time of removing makeup.

After quickly packing up, Wang Heng called the steward, gave him some detailed instructions, and then got in the carriage and headed towards the palace.

After leaving Pingkangfang, Wang Heng encountered several carriages of the same plain white color on Zhuque Street.

They were all ladies from different families. When they heard the funeral bell, they prepared to enter the palace according to their respective ranks.

When they reached the palace gate, Wang Heng got off the carriage.

The noble ladies in plain clothes were queuing up to register and enter the palace in an orderly manner.

"Princess!"

Zheng Shisan was sharp-eyed and spotted Wang Heng in the crowd, so he hurried over to say hello.

"Ok!"

Wang Heng looked up and glanced at Zheng Shisan, confirming that there was nothing wrong with her clothes and makeup, then nodded.

She didn't say much. At a time like this, it was better to say less and do less.

"Ajiu!"

Wang Mian also rushed over.

There were also other ladies, both familiar and unfamiliar.

They either simply say hello or communicate silently with their eyes.

Everyone knows that when the queen passes away, the saint must be extremely sad.

A saint is not a tyrant, but even a wise ruler will not tolerate "provocation" when his loved ones leave.

That's Queen Li.

She and the saint have never been a simple couple.

The cousins, a young couple, have been together for thirty years, supporting each other and sharing life and death.

This kind of friendship has long surpassed the ordinary relationship between husband and wife.

They were close relatives, companions. Their flesh and blood had long been fused together, and losing each other was like tearing apart bones and skin.

No one dared to guess how the saint would react after losing the queen.

At such a critical moment, it is better to behave yourself and not provoke the dissatisfaction of the saint and the entire royal family.

Everyone was silent and mournful as they slowly entered the palace.

The mourning hall has been set up in Liangyi Hall.

The sage and the crown prince personally prepared the burial for Queen Li.

Imperial Concubine Jiang and other concubines, Xiao Lu and other concubines of the Eastern Palace, all knelt in front of the hall according to their ranks.

The mourning hall was all white.

Everyone had already changed into appropriate mourning clothes according to their status.

The Crown Prince and the young prince wore the heaviest mourning clothes, coarse linen.

At the moment when Queen Li breathed her last, the emperor publicly appointed the young Yang Cheng as the crown prince.

Therefore, Xiao Dalang could legitimately follow the prince and cry and mourn for Queen Li.

……

When Wang Heng came in, the mourning hall was already filled with crying.

Whether it was real crying or just howling, the atmosphere of sorrow was very strong.

"Miss!"

Wang Heng's tears rolled down and she knelt respectfully before the coffin.

She didn't cry or beat her chest, she was truly sad.

She has no blood relationship with the queen, but over the years they have been together, the queen has treated her like an elder.

Although there was an exchange of interests between them, they both gave their true hearts.

Queen Li herself is a noble, kind, and almost perfect person.

Wang Heng instinctively respected and loved her.

With tears in her eyes, Wang Heng bowed and knelt at the designated position according to the rules.

Zheng Shisan knelt beside her.

Wang Mian's position is a little later.

There was no way. Although Xiao Wuzhi was more powerful, he was just a minister.

However, Zheng Shisan is a legitimate relative of the Yang family, and she and her mother-in-law both have relatively high positions.

Jiang Si was sitting further back, almost at the door.

Zheng Shiliu was not even qualified to enter the palace.

As Wang Heng's study partner, their positions in public were different due to the different identities of their husbands.

Wang Heng didn't pay too much attention to these.

She followed the rules, either kneeling or crying, while observing her surroundings inconspicuously.

Among the concubines in front of her, Wang Heng found a familiar figure.

My mother was also crying, her whole body shrouded in sadness.

Wang Heng knew that her mother was truly sad for Queen Li.

However, in the eyes of those who are interested, my mother's sincerity is just a show.

People only know that Concubine Jiang is the most favored person in the harem for many years, so they subconsciously assume that she and Queen Li are incompatible.

In fact, this couple of wife and concubine lived in harmony.

Even a saint would occasionally be "jealous": For Concubine Jiang, the Queen as the mistress makes her respect and rely on her more than the Saint as the master!

The world does not know this, and may even take advantage of the Queen's death to stir up trouble.

Now that the queen is dead, will Concubine Jiang, who was the most favored concubine, be enthroned as the queen?

But she still has the Ninth Prince, the emperor's beloved son.

A mother's status depends on her son, and a son's status depends on his mother. If Concubine Jiang becomes the queen, her son will be the legitimate son and will be qualified to compete for the throne.

This is the throne. How could Concubine Jiang and the Ninth Prince not be tempted?

Subsequent facts proved that Wang Heng's worries were not groundless.

Before Empress Li's funeral was over, rumors began to spread in the palace and among the people...